BE NI miyaa skul lɛ, nibii tsakeee tsɔ yɛ wɔmaŋ lɛ mli. Mɛi ni mikɛje skul shishi lɛ, amɛ nɔŋŋ mikɛgbe naa. Agbɛnɛ hu, akɛni wɔmaŋ lɛ edaaa kwraa hewɔ lɛ, mile mɛi ni yɔɔ maŋ lɛ mli lɛ ateŋ mɛi pii agbɛ́i, ni amɛ hu amɛle migbɛ́i.

Afee ŋmɔji babaoo yɛ Liberty maŋ lɛ hewɔ fɛɛ, ni abele ji nɔ ni aduɔ titri. Be ni afɔ mi lɛ, mipapa tsuɔ nii yɛ ŋmɔji nɛɛ ateŋ ekome mli. Be ni miji oblanyo fioo lɛ, mikase bɔ ni ahiɛɔ trakta kɛ bɔ ni atsuɔ ŋmɔshi nitsumɔi krokomɛi.

Be ni afɔ mi lɛ, mipapa eye afii 56 ni mimami eye afii 35. No hewɔ lɛ, mibaninaaa mipapa blahiiaŋ. Kɛ̃lɛ, be ni mibanina lɛ lɛ, ekpɔiaŋ wa, ni egbɔjɔko. Mipapa sumɔɔ nitsumɔ waa, ni edu suɔmɔ nɛɛ ewo wɔ fɛɛ wɔmli. Eyɛ mli akɛ jeee shika pii ko enáa moŋ, shi ekwɛ wɔ jogbaŋŋ. Wɔná he ko wɔwɔ, wɔná atadei wɔwo, ni wɔwɔɔɔ kɛ wɔmusuŋ hɔmɔ. Agbɛnɛ hu, ená dekã ehã wɔ waa. Egbo be ni eye afii 93, ni mimami hu gbo be ni eye afii 86. Amɛteŋ mɔ ko mɔ ko ebasɔmɔɔɔ Yehowa. Shi minyɛmimɛi hii lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome kɛ anɔkwayeli esɔmɔ akɛ asafoŋ onukpa kɛjɛ afi 1972 kɛbashi ŋmɛnɛ.

Mimami sumɔɔ Nyɔŋmɔjamɔ waa. Daa Hɔgbaa lɛ ekɛ wɔ yaa Baptist sɔlemɔ lɛ. Klɛŋklɛŋ be ni minu Triniti lɛ he sane lɛ, no mli lɛ miye afii 12. Mibi mimami  akɛ: “Te aaafee tɛŋŋ ni Yesu afee Bi lɛ ni yɛ nakai beiaŋ nɔŋŋ lɛ efee Tsɛ lɛ?” Mikaiɔ hetoo ni ehã lɛ. Ekɛɛ mi akɛ: “Mibinuu, enɛ lɛ wɔjwɛŋmɔ nyɛŋ ashɛ he. Wɔnyɛŋ wɔnu shishi kɔkɔɔkɔ.” Ni anɔkwa, minyɛɛɛ manu shishi hu lɛɛlɛŋ. Fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, be ni miye aaafee afii 14 lɛ, abaptisi mi yɛ kpaakpo bibioo ko ni yɔɔ wɔmaŋ lɛ mli lɛ mli. Akɛ mi wo nu lɛ mli shii etɛ. Klɛŋklɛŋ lɛ, akɛ mi wo mli yɛ Tsɛ lɛ gbɛ́i mli, kɛkɛ ni akɛ mi wo mli ekoŋŋ yɛ Bi lɛ gbɛ́i mli, ni naagbee lɛ, akɛ mi wo mli nɔ ni ji shii etɛ nɔ yɛ mumɔ krɔŋkrɔŋ lɛ gbɛ́i mli!

Be ni miyɔɔ sɛkɛndre skul lɛ, minaanyo ko ni nɔɔ atswɛrɛ lɛ kɔne miyiŋ ni mi hu mibɔi atswɛrɛnɔmɔ. Mikɛ mihe dɔmɔ gbɛjianɔtoo ko ni atsɛɔ lɛ Golden Gloves lɛ. Gbɛjianɔtoo nɛɛ tsɔseɔ mɛi kɛhã atswɛrɛnɔmɔ, ni amɛbɔi mi tsɔsemɔ. Shi mibɔɔɔ mɔdɛŋ ekpakpa ko, no hewɔ lɛ, be ni minɔ fioo lɛ, mikpa. Sɛɛ mli lɛ, agbala mi awo asraafoi anitsumɔ lɛ mli, ni ahã mifata U.S. asraafoi lɛ ahe kɛtee Germany. Onukpai ni ahã misɔmɔ yɛ amɛshishi yɛ Germany lɛ hã mitee asraafoi askul, ejaakɛ amɛnu he akɛ manyɛ mafee hiɛnyiɛlɔ kpakpa. Amɛná kulɛ, mihi asraafoi anitsumɔ lɛ mli kwraa. Shi anɔkwa, minyaaa asraafoi anitsumɔ lɛ he. No hewɔ lɛ, be ni afii enyɔ ni akɛɛ mikɛsɔmɔ akɛ asraafonyo lɛ ba naagbee yɛ afi 1956 lɛ, mishi asraafoi anitsumɔ lɛ mli. Shi no sɛɛ etsɛɛɛ lɛ, miyafata asraafoi akuu ko ni esoro amɛ kwraa lɛ he.

Nɛkɛ be nɛɛ mli fɛɛ lɛ, mibaleko anɔkwale lɛ, ni misusuɔ akɛ, kɛ́ akɛɛ mɔ ko ji nuu lɛ, belɛ, esa akɛ efee mɔ ko ni hiɛ wa ni ebuuu saa. Mikase enɛ kɛjɛ sinii ni mikwɛ lɛ, kɛ agbɛnɛ hu, bɔ ni hii ni yɔɔ wɔkutso lɛ mli lɛ fee amɛnii amɛhã lɛ mli. No hewɔ lɛ, kɛ́ mina nuu ni eeshiɛ Biblia lɛ mli sane eetsɔɔ mɔ ko lɛ, minuɔ he akɛ ehiɛ waaa. Shi nibii komɛi ni mikase lɛ hã mishihilɛ tsake. No mli lɛ, miyɛ tsɔne tsuru ko, nɔ ni anyɛɔ akpaa yiteŋ lɛ eko. Gbi ko lɛ, mita mitsɔne lɛ mli miiya he ko, kɛkɛ ni oblayei enyɔ komɛi fɔ̃ mi nine ni amɛtsɛ mi akɛ miba. Oblayei nɛɛ ji Yehowa Odasefoi, ni mile amɛ, ejaakɛ amɛnyɛmi nuu kɛ minyɛmi yoo nukpa lɛ bote gbalashihilɛ mli. Amɛhã mi Buu-Mɔɔ kɛ Awake! lɛ eko pɛŋ ni mihe, shi minu he akɛ Buu-Mɔɔ lɛ shishinumɔ wa tsɔ. No mli lɛ, mɛi fioo ko kpeɔ yɛ amɛshĩa lɛ ni amɛkaseɔ Biblia lɛ, nɔ ni atsɛɔ lɛ Asafo Woloŋ Nikasemɔ lɛ, ni oblayei lɛ fɔ̃ mi nine ni miba. Mikɛɛ amɛ akɛ masusu he. Amɛŋmɔ fioo ni amɛkɛɛ akɛ, “Wo wɔ shi akɛ obaaba.” Mikɛɛ amɛ akɛ, “Maba.”

Edɔ mi waa akɛ mikɛɛ amɛ akɛ maba, shi akɛni miwo amɛ shi hewɔ lɛ, minyɛɛɛ makɛɛ akɛ miyaaa. No hewɔ lɛ, mitee. Gbekɛbii ni miyana yɛ jɛmɛ lɛ hã minaa kpɛ mihe. Mina akɛ amɛle Biblia lɛ mli waa! Mikɛ mimami etee Hɔgbaa sɔlemɔ aahu, shi fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, nɔ ko bibioo pɛ mile yɛ Biblia lɛ mli. Mitswa mifai shi akɛ, agbɛnɛ lɛ, makase Biblia lɛ jogbaŋŋ, no hewɔ lɛ, mihã akɛ mi bɔi nikasemɔ. Klɛŋklɛŋ nibii ni mikase lɛ eko ji akɛ, Nyɔŋmɔ Ofe lɛ gbɛ́i diɛŋtsɛ ji Yehowa. Afii komɛi dani akɛ mi baabɔi nikasemɔ lɛ, mibi mimami Yehowa Odasefoi ahe sane, ni nɔ ni ekɛɛ mi ji akɛ, “Amɛ lɛ, amɛjáa nuumo ko ni atsɛɔ lɛ Yehowa.” No hewɔ lɛ, be ni akɛ mi bɔi nikasemɔ lɛ, minu he akɛ agbele mihiŋmɛii!

Mitee mihiɛ oyayaayai, ejaakɛ mina akɛ anɔkwale lɛ nɔŋŋ nɛ. Abaptisi mi yɛ klɛŋklɛŋ kpee ni mitee lɛ sɛɛ nyɔji nɛɛhu, yɛ March 1957 mli. Nibii ni mikase lɛ hã mitsake jwɛŋmɔ ni tsutsu ko lɛ mihiɛ lɛ. Eŋɔɔ minaa akɛ Biblia lɛ hã mina nɔ diɛŋtsɛ ni hãa mɔ feɔ nuu. Yesu ba shikpɔŋ lɛ nɔ akɛ nuu ni eye emuu. Be ni eyɔɔ shikpɔŋ lɛ nɔ lɛ, ehe wa fe hii krokomɛi fɛɛ.  Shi ekɛ mɛi enɔɔɔ. Moŋ lɛ, “eŋmɛɛ ehe ehã nɔnaa,” tamɔ bɔ ni agba afɔ̃ shi yɛ ehe lɛ. (Yes. 53:2, 7) Mikase akɛ, dani mɔ ko baanyɛ atsɛ ehe Yesu sɛɛnyiɛlɔ lɛ, “esa akɛ efee mɔ ni mli jɔ hã mɛi fɛɛ.”​—2 Tim. 2:24.

Yɛ afi 1958, ni ji afi ni nyiɛ sɛɛ lɛ mli lɛ, mibɔi gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ. Shi etsɛɛɛ ni mikɛfɔ̃ shi fioo. Ani ole nɔ hewɔ? Mikpɛ miyiŋ akɛ mikɛ oblayei lɛ ni fɔ̃ mi nine kɛtee Asafo Woloŋ Nikasemɔ lɛ shishi lɛ ateŋ mɔ kome ni atsɛɔ lɛ Gloria lɛ baabote gbalashihilɛ mli! Mishwako mihe kwraa akɛ mikpɛ miyiŋ nakai. Gloria tamɔ daimɔnd kɛhã mi kɛjɛ be ni mikɛ lɛ hi shi lɛ tɔ̃ɔ kɛbashi ŋmɛnɛ. Ejara wa hã mi fe daimɔnd ni jara wa fe fɛɛ yɛ je lɛ mli lɛ po, ni eŋɔɔ minaa waa akɛ mikɛ lɛ bote gbalashihilɛ mli! Hã lɛ diɛŋtsɛ egba bo eshihilɛ he sane fioo:

“Afɔ wɔyi 17. Mimami ji Odasefonyo, ni eye Yehowa anɔkwa kɛyashi egbo. Be ni egbo lɛ, miye afii 14. No sɛɛ dani mipapa bɔi Biblia lɛ kasemɔ. Akɛni wɔmami bɛ dɔŋŋ hewɔ lɛ, mipapa yabi skul nɔkwɛlɔ lɛ gbɛ koni mi kɛ minyɛmi yoo nukpa lɛ aya skul yɛ gbii srɔtoi anɔ yɛ otsi lɛ mli. No mli lɛ eshwɛ fioo ni minyɛmi yoo lɛ baagbe skul naa. Skul nɔkwɛlɔ lɛ kpɛlɛ nɔ. No hewɔ lɛ, gbi ni minyɛmi yoo lɛ baaya skul lɛ, mahi shĩa; ni gbi ni maya lɛ, ebaahi shĩa. Wɔfee nakai koni wɔnyɛ wɔkwɛ wɔnyɛmimɛi bibii lɛ ni wɔhoo nii wɔhã weku lɛ, koni kɛ́ wɔpapa jɛ nitsumɔ eba gbɛkɛ lɛ, ená nɔ ko eye. Wɔfee nakai kɛyashi minyɛmi yoo lɛ gbe skul naa. Odasefoi wekui enyɔ ni kɛ wɔ kase nii, ni wɔteŋ mɛi 11 batsɔmɔ Yehowa Odasefoi. Mihiɛ gboɔ waa, shi misumɔɔ shiɛmɔyaa waa. Miwu, Sam, etee nɔ eye ebua mi koni maye mihiɛ ni gboɔ lɛ nɔ.”

Mikɛ Gloria bote gbalashihilɛ mli yɛ February 1959, ni wɔkɛ miishɛɛ sɔmɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔi. Nakai afi lɛ nɔŋŋ mli yɛ July mli lɛ, wɔbi ni ahã wɔbasɔmɔ yɛ Betel, ejaakɛ wɔshwe waa akɛ wɔsɔmɔ yɛ nitsumɔhe yitso lɛ. Nyɛminuu Simon Kraker kɛ wɔ gba sane ni ebibii wɔ saji. Ehã wɔle akɛ ahãaa mɛi ni ebote gbalashihilɛ mli abasɔmɔ yɛ Betel yɛ nakai beiaŋ. Loloolo lɛ, wɔshwe waa akɛ wɔyasɔmɔ yɛ Betel, shi afii pii ho dani wɔnyɛ wɔyasɔmɔ yɛ jɛmɛ!

Wɔŋma wolo kɛtee nitsumɔhe yitso lɛ ni wɔbi koni atsɔɔ wɔ hei ni hiamɔ lɛ da yɛ ni wɔbaanyɛ wɔyasɔmɔ yɛ. Be ni hetoo lɛ baa lɛ, he kome pɛ ahã wɔ. No ji Pine Bluff ni yɔɔ Arkansas lɛ. Nakai beiaŋ lɛ, asafoi enyɔ ni yɔɔ Pine Bluff. Ekome lɛ blɔfomɛi sɔŋŋ yɔɔ mli, ni ekroko lɛ, mɛidiji sɔŋŋ yɔɔ mli. Ahã wɔkɛ asafo ni mɛidiji yɔɔ mli lɛ yasɔmɔ, ni no mli lɛ, shiɛlɔi 14 pɛ yɔɔ nakai asafo lɛ mli.

Ekolɛ obaabi akɛ, ‘Mɛni hewɔ nyɛmimɛi blɔfomɛi lɛ kɛ nyɛmimɛi ni ji mɛidiji lɛ efeee ekome kɛsɔmɔɔɔ lɛ?’ Yɛ kukufoo mli lɛ, nakai beiaŋ lɛ, ehiii nakai feemɔ, ejaakɛ mla eŋmɛɛɛ gbɛ. Agbɛnɛ hu, kɛ́ ana mɔdiŋ ni etee he ni blɔfomɛi yɔɔ lɛ, abaanyɛ aye lɛ awui. Yɛ hei pii lɛ, nyɛmimɛi lɛ she gbeyei akɛ, kɛ́ blɔfomɛi kɛ mɛidiji fee ekome kɛsɔmɔ lɛ, abaanyɛ afite amɛ-Maŋtsɛyeli Asa lɛ. Nibii tamɔ nakai tee nɔ. Kɛ́ mɛidiji yashiɛ yɛ hei ni blɔfomɛi yɔɔ lɛ, polisifoi baanyɛ amɔ amɛ ni amɛyi amɛ. No hewɔ lɛ, wɔye mlai nɛɛ anɔ bɔ ni afee ni wɔnyɛ wɔtsu shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ kɛyashi nibii baatsake ni mɛidiji kɛ blɔfomɛi fɛɛ afee ekome kɛsɔmɔ.

Wɔkɛ naagbai kpe yɛ wɔshiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Akɛ nɔkwɛmɔnɔ lɛ, bei komɛi lɛ kɛ́ wɔmiishiɛ yɛ hei ni mɛidiji yɔɔ lɛ, wɔyatswaa blɔfomɛi ashinaa ní wɔleee. Kɛ́ eba lɛ nakai lɛ, esa akɛ wɔkpɛ wɔyiŋ oya nɔŋŋ kɛji wɔbaashiɛ wɔhã amɛ kuku loo wɔbaakpa amɛ fai kɛkɛ ni wɔshi. Nakai ji bɔ ni nibii tee lɛ yɛ nakai beiaŋ.

Wɔtsu nii waa koni wɔná nɔ ko wɔkɛkwɛ wɔhe be ni wɔtsuɔ gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ. Nitsumɔi ni wɔná lɛ pii yɛ ni shika fioo ko pɛ ahãa wɔ. Gloria saa mɛi ashĩai amli ehã amɛ. Weku ko ni eyasaa amɛshĩa lɛ mli ehãa amɛ lɛ ŋmɛɔ mi gbɛ ni miyeɔ mibuaa lɛ koni egbe nitsumɔ lɛ naa mra, ni amɛhãa wɔ shwane niyenii. Mi kɛ Gloria yeɔ nii lɛ dani mishiɔ. Daa otsi lɛ, Gloria yatoɔ nii anɔ ehãa weku ko, ni misaa amɛyale lɛ mli, mishaa amɛsamfɛji lɛ amli, ni mitsuɔ nibii krokomɛi yɛ shĩa lɛ mli. No mli hu lɛ, wɔyashaa samfɛji amli yɛ blɔfomɛi komɛi ashĩa. Gloria tsuɔ nii yɛ tsũi lɛ amli, ni mitsuɔ yɛ kpo lɛ nɔ. Eheɔ wɔ gbi muu lɛ fɛɛ, no hewɔ lɛ, amɛhãa wɔ shwane niyenii. Gloria yeɔ nii yɛ shĩa lɛ mli, shi esoro he ni eyeɔ nii yɛ lɛ yɛ he ni weku lɛ yeɔ nii yɛ. Mi lɛ miyeɔ yɛ agba ko shishi yɛ agbo lɛ naa, shi egbaaa minaa. Mɛi lɛ amli hi, ni amɛniyenii lɛ ŋɔɔ waa. Shihilɛ lɛ kɛ mɛi ni bɔle amɛ lɛ kɛkɛ ni hã amɛfee amɛnii nakai. Mikaiɔ akɛ be ko lɛ,  wɔtee wɔyaahe pɛtrol yɛ pɛtrol steshɛŋ ko. Be ni wɔfo pɛtrol lɛ wɔtã lɛ, mibi mɔ ni kwɛɔ jɛmɛ lɛ kɛji Gloria baanyɛ aya he ni ashwieɔ nu yɛ lɛ shwiaa. Shi akɛni nuu lɛ blɔfonyo ni shi wɔ lɛ mɛidiji ji wɔ hewɔ lɛ, ekwɛ mi kɛ hiŋmɛi ko, ni ekɛɛ akɛ, “Aŋmɛ mli.”

Nyɛmimɛi lɛ kɛ wɔ yeee tamɔ bɔ ni mɛi krokomɛi lɛ kɛ wɔ ye lɛ. Amɛhã wɔná miishɛɛ waa. Ni wɔnya shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ hu he waa! Be ni wɔtee Pine Bluff ehee lɛ, wɔyahi nyɛmi nuu ko shĩa. No mli lɛ, nyɛmi nuu nɛɛ ji asafo sɔɔlɔ lɛ, shi eŋa lɛ jeee Odasefonyo. Gloria kɛ yoo lɛ bɔi Biblia lɛ kasemɔ, ni mi hu mikɛ amɛbiyoo lɛ kɛ ewu bɔi nikasemɔ. Yoo lɛ kɛ ebiyoo lɛ fɛɛ kpɛ amɛyiŋ akɛ amɛbaasɔmɔ Yehowa, ni abaptisi amɛ.

Wɔná nanemɛi ni sumɔɔ wɔsane waa yɛ blɔfomɛi lɛ asafo lɛ mli. Amɛfɔ̃ wɔ nine kɛtee amɛshĩai amli kɛhã niyeli, shi akɛni aahi ni abaana blɔfonyo kɛ mɔdiŋ ni amɛfee ekome hewɔ lɛ, ja duŋ ewo dani wɔnyɛɔ wɔyaa. No beiaŋ lɛ, kuu ko ni atsɛɔ lɛ Ku Klux Klan (KKK), ni feɔ basabasa ni woɔ mɛi hewalɛ koni amɛna blɔfomɛi akɛ amɛnɔ kwɔlɔ fe mɛidiji lɛ mli bii pii yɛ jɛmɛ. Mikaiɔ akɛ, gbɛkɛ ko yɛ gbi ni ayeɔ gbi jurɔ ko ni atsɛɔ lɛ Halloween lɛ nɔ lɛ, mina nuu ko ni eta evanranda nɔ ni esaa ehe tamɔ KKK lɛ mli nyo. Shi yɛ nibii gbohii ni tee nɔ yɛ nakai beiaŋ lɛ fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, nyɛmimɛi lɛ tee nɔ amɛjie mlihilɛ kpo amɛtsɔɔ wɔ. Be ko lɛ, ehe bahia ni wɔhɔ̃ɔ wɔtsɔne lɛ koni wɔná shika kɛfã gbɛ kɛya kpee wulu ko shishi, ni nyɛmi nuu ko he. Akɛni tsɔne lɛ bɛ dɔŋŋ hewɔ lɛ, wɔnyiɛɔ hulu nɔ kɛyaa shiɛmɔ. Gbi ko lɛ, wɔtee shiɛmɔ nakai ni wɔyafee Biblia mli nikasemɔi babaoo, ni be ni wɔshɛɔ shĩa lɛ etɔ wɔ bliboo. Shi be ni wɔyaakwɛ lɛ, naa wɔtsɔne lɛ ma shĩa lɛ hiɛ! No mli lɛ, nyɔɔŋ kome pɛ eho kɛjɛ be ni wɔhɔ̃ɔ lɛ. Be ni wɔkwɛ tsɔne lɛ hiɛ glase lɛ, wɔna akɛ aŋma nɔ ko yɛ wolo fioo ko nɔ, ni ekaneɔ akɛ: “Mikɛ nyɛtsɔne lɛ miiku sɛɛ miihã nyɛ akɛ nikeenii ni jɛ miŋɔɔ. Nyɛnyɛmi nuu.”

Mihiɛ kpaŋ ejurɔ ko ni nyɛmimɛi lɛ fee mi lɛ nɔ kɔkɔɔkɔ. Yɛ afi 1962 lɛ, afɔ̃ mi nine ni miba Maŋtsɛyeli Sɔɔmɔ Skul lɛ yɛ South Lansing yɛ New York. Akɛ skul nɛɛ tsɔseɔ mɛi ni kwɛɔ asafoi lɛ, kpokpai lɛ, kɛ kpokpai wuji lɛ anɔ lɛ, ni eheɔ nyɔɔŋ kome. Be ni ninefɔɔ lɛ ba lɛ, mibɛ nitsumɔ, ni mihe egbo. Shi no mli lɛ, tɛlifoŋ nitsumɔhe ko ni yɔɔ Pine Bluff lɛ ebibii mi saji koni amɛkwɛ akɛ amɛbaanyɛ amɛhe mi yɛ amɛnitsumɔ lɛ mli lo. Kɛ́ amɛhe mi lɛ, mafee klɛŋklɛŋ mɔdiŋ ni ahe lɛ yɛ nakai nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Miyɛ ni gbi ko lɛ amɛkɛɛ mi akɛ amɛbaahe mi yɛ nitsumɔ lɛ mli. Mɛni mafee? Mibɛ shika ni mikɛbaafã gbɛ kɛya New York. No hewɔ lɛ, minu he waa akɛ mimɔ nitsumɔ lɛ mli ni mikaya skul lɛ. Anɔkwa, be ni mifee mijwɛŋmɔ akɛ maŋma Betel wolo kɛtsɔɔ akɛ minyɛŋ maba skul lɛ, nɔŋŋ kɛkɛ ni nɔ ko ba, ni mihiɛ kpaŋ nɔ ni ba lɛ nɔ kɔkɔɔkɔ.

Gbi ko leebi maŋkpa lɛ, nyɛmi yoo ko ni yɔɔ wɔsafo lɛ mli ni ewu jeee Odasefonyo lɛ batswa wɔshinaa lɛ ni ekɛ envelope ko hã mi. Be ni migbele naa lɛ, shika sɔŋŋ. Asomoaŋ lɛ, ekɛ ebii bibii lɛ teɔ shi leebi maŋkpa ni amɛyahuɔ odonti ŋmɔji amli bɔ ni afee ni amɛkɛbua shika naa amɛhã mi koni manyɛ maya skul lɛ  yɛ New York. Ekɛɛ mi akɛ: “Yaa skul lɛ ni oyakase nii waa, ni oku osɛɛ obatsɔɔ wɔ nii!” Sɛɛ mli lɛ, mibi tɛlifoŋ bii lɛ kɛji manyɛ mabɔi nitsumɔ yɛ jɛmɛ otsii enumɔ yɛ be ni amɛtsɔɔ akɛ mibɔi nitsumɔ lɛ sɛɛ. Amɛkɛɛ mi kpoo akɛ, “Dabi!” Shi egbaaa minaa. Mikpɛ miyiŋ akɛ maya skul lɛ, ni eŋɔɔ minaa waa akɛ miyatsuuu tɛlifoŋ nitsumɔ lɛ!

Gloria hu ná miishɛɛ waa be ni wɔyɔɔ Pine Bluff lɛ. Naa nɔ ni eyɔɔ kɛɛmɔ: “Shikpɔŋkuku lɛ mli nitsumɔ ŋɔɔ diɛŋtsɛ! No mli lɛ, miyɛ Biblia mli nikaselɔi 15 kɛmiimɔ 20. Wɔtsuɔ shĩa fɛɛ shĩa nitsumɔ lɛ leebi, kɛkɛ lɛ, wɔyafee Biblia mli nikasemɔi. Bei komɛi lɛ, wɔnyiɛɔ shiɛmɔ nɔ aahu kɛyashi gbɛkɛ ŋmɛlɛ 11. Shiɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ ŋɔɔ waa, ni miná kulɛ, mitee nɔ misɔmɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔ! Anɔkwa, kɛ́ eka mi kome kulɛ, wɔbaaya nɔ wɔtsu gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ ni wɔtsuŋ kpokpaa nɔkwɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ. Shi esoro yiŋ ni Yehowa kpɛ yɛ wɔhe.” No hewɔ ni ehi akɛ ewie akɛ, ‘kɛ́ eka ekome kulɛ’ lɛ.

Be ni wɔtsuɔ gbɛgbamɔ nitsumɔ lɛ yɛ Pine Bluff lɛ, wɔbi ni ahã wɔsɔmɔ akɛ gbɛgbalɔi krɛdɛi. Wɔnu he waa akɛ abaakpɛlɛ wɔnibimɔ lɛ nɔ. Mɛni hewɔ? Ejaakɛ wɔle akɛ kpokpaa wulu nɔkwɛlɔ lɛ miisumɔ ni wɔyaye wɔbua asafo ko yɛ Texas, ni eesumɔ ni wɔyasɔmɔ yɛ jɛmɛ akɛ gbɛgbalɔi krɛdɛi. Wɔná esusumɔ lɛ he miishɛɛ. Wɔmɛ aahu, shi wɔnuuu nɔ ko nɔ ko, kɛyashi gbi ko lɛ, wɔnine shɛ wolo ko nɔ. Yɛ wolo lɛ mli lɛ, ahã wɔle akɛ wɔbaayasɔmɔ asafoi lɛ! Wɔnine shɛ wolo lɛ nɔ January 1965. Nakai beiaŋ nɔŋŋ awó Nyɛminuu Leon Weaver, ni amrɔ nɛɛ esɔmɔɔ akɛ United States Nitsumɔhe Nine Ajinafoi Akuu lɛ saji ahe gbɛjianɔtolɔ lɛ hu kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ.

Be ni awó mi kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ lɛ, mishe gbeyei fioo. Aaafee afi loo nɔ dani maná sɔɔmɔ hegbɛ nɛɛ, Nyɛminuu James A. Thompson, Jr., ni no mli lɛ eesɔmɔ akɛ kpokpaa wulu nɔkwɛlɔ lɛ, kwɛ kɛji manyɛ masɔmɔ akɛ kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ. Etsɔɔ mi sui ni hãa mɔ feɔ kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ kpakpa, ni ejɛ mlihilɛ mli etsɔɔ mi nibii enyɔoo ko ni kɛji mitsu he nii lɛ manyɛ masɔmɔ akɛ kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ. Be ni mibɔi sɔɔmɔ akɛ kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ lɛ, eyeee be ko kwraa ni mina akɛ ŋaa kpakpa ewo mi lɛ. Nyɛminuu Thompson ji klɛŋklɛŋ kpokpaa wulu nɔkwɛlɔ ni mikɛ sɔmɔ be ni awó mi kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ lɛ. Mikase nibii babaoo kɛjɛ nyɛmi nuu anɔkwafo nɛɛ dɛŋ.

Nakai beiaŋ lɛ, tsɔsemɔ fioo ko pɛ akɛhãa kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔi. Ahã mifata kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔ ko he be ni esɔmɔɔ asafo ko lɛ, koni makwɛ bɔ ni etsuɔ nibii ahe nii ehãa. Enɔ otsi lɛ, ahã misɔmɔ asafo ko, ni lɛ hu ekwɛ bɔ ni mitsuɔ nibii ahe nii mihãa. Ewo mi ŋaa ni ehã mi gbɛtsɔɔmɔi, ni no sɛɛ lɛ, eshi mi koni mi kome misɔmɔ asafoi lɛ. Mikaiɔ akɛ mikɛɛ Gloria akɛ, “Mɛni hewɔ eshi wɔ oya nɛkɛ?” Sɛɛ mli lɛ, miyɔse nɔ ko ni he hiaa waa. He fɛɛ he ni obaaya lɛ, nyɛmimɛi hii  kpakpai yɛ ni baanyɛ aye abua bo, shi ja oŋmɛ amɛ gbɛ dã. Nyɛminuu J.  R. Brown, ni no mli lɛ esɔmɔɔ akɛ nɔkwɛlɔ gbɛfalɔ lɛ, kɛ Nyɛminuu Fred Rusk, ni no mli lɛ etsuɔ nii yɛ Betel lɛ, ye amɛbua mi, ni mihiɛ sɔɔ yelikɛbuamɔ ni amɛkɛhã mi lɛ waa.

No beiaŋ lɛ, blɔfomɛi kɛ mɛidiji yeee kwraa. Be ko be ni wɔyɔɔ Tennessee lɛ, KKK kuu lɛ mli bii shi jama kɛkpa maŋ ko ni wɔtee wɔyaasara asafo ko yɛ mli lɛ mli. Mikaiɔ be ko hu ni wɔnyiɛ shiɛmɔ nɔ ni wɔgba he ko ni ahɔ̃ɔ niyenii yɛ koni wɔyajɔɔ wɔhe fioo lɛ. Mitee nushwiemɔhe lɛ koni miyashwie nu. Shi be ni miyaa lɛ, mina akɛ nuu ko ni ebɔ, ni efee tatuu ni mɛi ni hiɔ mɛidiji lɛ feɔ lɛ eko yɛ ehe fɛɛ lɛ ete shi ni enyiɛ misɛɛ. Shi nyɛmi nuu blɔfonyo ko ni ebɔ fe mi kɛ nuu lɛ ni nyiɛ misɛɛ lɛ fɛɛ te shi ni lɛ hu enyiɛ wɔsɛɛ kɛbote nushwiemɔhe lɛ. Kɛkɛ ni ebi mi akɛ, “Nyɛminuu Herd, naagba ko eba lo?” Oya ni nuu lɛ ni nyiɛ misɛɛ lɛ je kpo kɛje nushwiemɔhe lɛ; enáaa eshwie nu lɛ dɔŋŋ. Miyɔse akɛ, jeee mɔ ko hewolonɔ su ji nɔ ni hãa ehe tsɛ̃ɔ enyɛmi gbɔmɔ ni esoro ehewolonɔ su. Shi moŋ, esha ni akɛfɔ wɔ fɛɛ lɛ hewɔ ebaa lɛ nakai. Miyɔse hu akɛ, ekɔɔɔ he eko hewolonɔ su ni wɔyɔɔ lɛ, nyɛmimɛi ji wɔ, ni no hewɔ lɛ, kɛ́ ehe bahia ni nyɛmi ko ni esoro ehewolonɔ su yɛ onɔ lɛ he lɛ agbo ahã bo po lɛ, ebaafee.

Wɔkɛ afii 12 tsu kpokpaa nɔkwɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ, ni wɔkɛ afii 21 tsu kpokpaa wulu nɔkwɛmɔ nitsumɔ lɛ. Yehowa jɔɔ wɔ waa yɛ afii nɛɛ amli, ni wɔná niiashikpamɔi babaoo ni woɔ mɔ hewalɛ. Shi asomoaŋ, jɔɔmɔ kroko nyiɛ gbɛ. Yɛ August 1997 lɛ, wɔnine shɛ nɔ ko ni wɔkɛ afii pii eshwe lɛ nɔ. Afɔ̃ wɔ nine ni wɔbasɔmɔ yɛ Betel yɛ United States. Hɛɛ, wɔmɛ afii 38 sɔŋŋ kɛjɛ klɛŋklɛŋ be ni wɔbi akɛ ahã wɔbasɔmɔ yɛ jɛmɛ lɛ. Wɔje wɔ-Betel sɔɔmɔ lɛ shishi yɛ nyɔɔŋ ni nyiɛ sɛɛ lɛ mli. Miyasusu akɛ nyɛmimɛi lɛ miitao ni matsu nii be kukuoo ko kɛkɛ, shi jeee nakai kwraa nibii anaa yakpa hã.

Klɛŋklɛŋ lɛ, ahã mitsu nii yɛ Service Department lɛ. Mikase nii babaoo yɛ jɛmɛ. Onukpai akui srɔtoi kɛ kpokpaa nɔkwɛlɔi ni yɔɔ maŋ lɛ mli hei srɔtoi lɛ kɛ saji ni mli wawai baa jɛmɛ koni aye abua amɛ ni amɛtsu he nii. Nyɛmimɛi lɛ to amɛtsui shi ni amɛtsɔse mi koni manyɛ matsu nitsumɔ lɛ jogbaŋŋ, ni mihiɛ sɔ enɛ waa. Fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, mile akɛ kɛ́ akɛ mi tee jɛmɛ ekoŋŋ ŋmɛnɛ lɛ, makase nibii babaoo lolo.

Mi kɛ Gloria fɛɛ sumɔɔ Betel shihilɛ waa. Kɛjɛ blema fɛɛ lɛ, wɔteɔ shi mra, ni enɛ eye ebua wɔ waa yɛ Betel. Aaafee afi loo nɔ sɛɛ lɛ, mibɔi sɔɔmɔ akɛ yelikɛbualɔ kɛhã Yehowa Odasefoi Agbɛtsɔɔmɔ Kuu lɛ Sɔɔmɔ Nitsumɔ Ajinafoi Akuu lɛ. Kɛkɛ ni yɛ afi 1999 lɛ, ahã mibɔi sɔɔmɔ akɛ Gbɛtsɔɔmɔ Kuu lɛ mli nyo. Sɔɔmɔ ni misɔmɔɔ akɛ Gbɛtsɔɔmɔ Kuu lɛ mli nyo lɛ ehã mikase nibii pii. Nɔ ni he hiaa fe fɛɛ ni mikase ji akɛ, Yesu Kristo ji Kristofoi asafo lɛ yitso, shi jeee adesa ko.

Kɛ́ mikwɛ nibii ni etee nɔ yɛ mishihilɛ mli lɛ, bei komɛi lɛ, minaa mihe tamɔ gbalɔ Amos. Amos tsu nitsumɔ ni baa shi akɛ tookwɛlɔ kɛ mɔ ko ni saa sikamore agbami tsei ahe. Yɛ ebeiaŋ lɛ, mɛi naa sikamore agbami akɛ eji ohiafoi aniyenii. Fɛɛ sɛɛ lɛ, Yehowa gbala ejwɛŋmɔ kɛtee nuu nɛɛ nɔ, ni ewó lɛ gbalɔ, ni ejɔɔ lɛ babaoo. (Amos 7:14, 15) Nakai nɔŋŋ Yehowa gbala ejwɛŋmɔ kɛba mi, ni mi ji okwaafonyo ohiafo ko ni yɔɔ Liberty yɛ Indiana lɛ binuu lɛ nɔ, ni ejɔɔ mi babaoo bɔ ni minyɛŋ mikane! (Abɛi 10:22) Miye ohia yɛ migbekɛbiiashi, shi Yehowa ejɔɔ mi bɔ ni mijwɛŋmɔ nyɛŋ ashɛ he. Yɛ mfonirifeemɔŋ gbɛ nɔ lɛ, manyɛ makɛɛ akɛ, ehã mitsɔ niiatsɛ!